Psalm 13–15

Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Lord, how long must I wait? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you turn your face away from me?

²How long must I struggle with my thoughts?

How long must my heart be sad day after day?

How long will my enemies keep winning the battle over me?

³Lord my God, look at me and answer me.

Give me new life, or I will die.

⁴Then my enemies will say, “We have beaten him.”

They will be filled with joy when I die.

⁵But I trust in your faithful love.

My heart is filled with joy because you will save me.

⁶I will sing to the Lord.

He has been so good to me.

Psalm 14

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Foolish people say in their hearts,

“There is no God.”

They do all kinds of horrible and evil things.

No one does anything good.

²The Lord looks down from heaven

on all people.

He wants to see if there are any who understand.

He wants to see if there are any who trust in God.

³All of them have turned away.

They have all become evil.

No one does anything good,

no one at all.

⁴Won’t those who do evil ever learn?

They eat up my people as if they were eating bread.

They don’t call out to the Lord for help.

⁵Just look at them! They are filled with terror

because God is among those who do right.

⁶You who do evil make it hard for poor people to do what they plan to do.

But the Lord is their place of safety.

⁷How I pray that the One who saves Israel will come out of Zion!

Then the Lord will bless his people with great success again.

So let the people of Jacob be filled with joy! Let Israel be glad!

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

¹Lord, who can live in your sacred tent?

Who can stay on your holy hill?

²Anyone who lives without blame

and does what is right.

He speaks the truth from his heart.

³He doesn’t tell lies about others.

He doesn’t do wrong to his neighbors.

He doesn’t say anything bad about them.

⁴He hates sinful people.

He honors those who have respect for the Lord.

He keeps his promises

even when it hurts.

⁵He lends his money without charging too much interest.

He doesn’t accept money to harm those who aren’t guilty.

Anyone who lives like that

will always be secure.